Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne faced hitters Thursday for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery last June and was pleased with the results.

He hopes to be ready for opening day, though he doesn’t have a timetable.

“I expected to feel good, but I didn’t expect to have so much zip on my fastball and movement on my changeup,” Gagne said. “I was surprised. It’s reassuring. I was under control, staying inside myself and throwing about 80 percent. The ball was going where I wanted it to, which is a big thing.”

The 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner was limited to 14 games last season due to arm and knee injuries. On June 24, he had surgery to repair a ligament in his elbow.

Pat Borders, who caught Gagne’s 20-pitch, four-batter session, said the right-hander mixed fastballs, changeups and sliders. Gagne did not throw a curveball, but said there wasn’t a specific reason why not.

“I didn’t know until after that, that was the first time he’d thrown against live hitters since last year,” Borders said. “That being said, it made what he did out there more impressive. His changeup was super.”

In Fort Myers, Fla., the Boston Red Sox had their first full-squad workout, with Manny Ramirez the only no-show.

The slugging left fielder previously received permission from the club to report next Wednesday, one day after the mandatory reporting date.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino declined to take the bait when asked about New York owner George Steinbrenner’s statement the previous day that the Yankees would win the World Series.

“We have enough to worry about in our own camp let alone worrying about what everybody else says in other camps,” Lucchino said. “I take that as an expression of optimism rather than as a prediction. I’m glad he’s optimistic, but we have nothing in common on that. We still see ourselves as David against Goliath.”

Ramirez and former Red Sox teammate Pedro Martinez might withdraw from the Dominican Republic’s team in the World Baseball Classic. Martinez, who has a toe injury, still hasn’t pitched off a mound in spring training for the New York Mets. He said Thursday he definitely would miss the first round of the tournament.

“Our understanding is that Pedro, very frankly, is doubtful,” said Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players’ association. “It’s still possible he will play, but I think it’s at best 50-50 right now.”

Orza has spoken in recent days with representatives for Martinez and Ramirez.

“Coming to camp on March 1 doesn’t bode well for Manny’s participation,” Orza said.

The Dominicans won’t have Texas Rangers closer Francisco Cordero, who has a sore shoulder, or Arizona reliever Jose Valverde, who pulled out because he wants to prepare for his season with the Diamondbacks. Both were on the Dominican Republic’s preliminary roster.

At Scottsdale, Ariz., Barry Bonds had a quiet second day in spring training with a much smaller media contingent present than upon his arrival the previous day.

“What happened to the mob?” Giants manager Felipe Alou said. “The mobsters.”

Bonds hit five home runs in batting practice against first-base coach Luis Pujols, including two consecutive balls into the right-field picnic area.